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A concerted campus-wide effort to reduce its waste production helped Lawrence University finish 19th among 339 schools in the recently completed 2012 national RecycleMania competition’s per capita classic division.

In this category, schools compete to see which can collect the largest combined amount of paper, cardboard and bottles and cans on a per-person basis.

Lawrence was the division’s top finisher among 13 Wisconsin colleges with an average of 37.82 pounds of recyclables per person. The college also had a recycling rate of just over 29 percent of its overall waste generation (126th nationally). Union College won the per capita category’s national title with an average of 61.79 pounds per person.

“We’re doing well against some stiff competition and we’re using that competition to affect some positive changes on campus,” said Jason Brozek, assistant professor of government and current chair of Lawrence’s Green Roots sustainability committee. Some are highly visible ones, like the new outdoor recycling bins around campus and the new single-stream posters in all of the residence halls. Others are more behind the scenes, like evaluating our collection schedule.”

RecycleMania was first conducted in 2001 between Miami University and Ohio University. The 2012 competition included 605 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.

In addition to the per capita classics division, schools also can participate in three other categories:

• Grand Champion, which combined trash and core recyclable materials to determine a school’s recycling rate as a percentage of its overall waste generation

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Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a world-class conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. Ranked among America’s best colleges by Forbes, it was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” Individualized learning, the development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,445 students from 44 states and 35 countries. Follow us on Facebook.

Through a concerted campus-wide effort to reduce its waste production, Lawrence University finished ninth among 346 schools in the recently completed 2010 national RecycleMania competition’s per capita classic division.

Lawrence was the division’s top finisher among 14 Wisconsin colleges with an average of 44.65 pounds of recyclables per person, more than double the next closest state school (St. Norbert College, 20.48 lbs. per person). The U.S. Coast Guard Academy won the category’s national title with an average of 81.75 pounds per person.

The 10-week-long competition is a benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.

Brit Oleson, president of the student environmental organization Greenfire, coordinated Lawrence’s first venture into the RecycleMania competition. She said Lawrence’s strong initial showing was truly a team effort.

“Credit goes to the many members of the Lawrence community who recycled wisely and consciously reduced their personal waste production,” said Oleson. “Our combined efforts over the course of the contest helped divert nearly 115,000 pounds of recyclable materials from ending up in landfills. I hope Recyclemania made members of the Lawrence community realize that even our small campus can have a substantial impact on the environment and the little things we choose to do on a personal basis from day-to-day can and do make a difference.

“A giant ‘thank you’ goes to people in facility services, Campus Life, Bon Appetit and members of Greenfire who all pulled together to help make our first year in this contest a big success,” Oleson added.

RecycleMania was first conducted in 2001 between Miami University and Ohio University. The 2010 competition included a record 607 colleges and universities across the United States, Canada and as far away as Qatar. Schools could participate in four categories:
• Grand Champion, which combined trash and core recyclable materials to determine a school’s recycling rate as a percentage of its overall waste generation.

• Per Capita Classic, which measured the combined amount of paper, cardboard and bottles and cans per person.

With less than three weeks remaining in the 2010 national RecycleMania competition, Lawrence University has moved up from 11th to 6th place in the per capita classic category according to the most recent standings. The category tracks the amount of acceptable materials recycled per person.

Lawrence had recycled an average of 21.99 pounds per person, up from 8.67 pounds at the beginning of the competition, which features 315 colleges and universities across the nation. Colorado College continues to lead the category at 34.58 pounds per person. Lawrence is first among 12 other Wisconsin schools in the per capita classic category.

RecycleMania is a friendly, 10-week-long competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. The challenge, which ends March 27, includes four primary competition categories:

• Grand Champion, which combines trash and core recyclable materials to determine a school’s recycling rate as a percentage of its overall waste generation.

• Per Capita Classic, in which schools compete to see which can collect the largest combined amount of paper, cardboard and bottles and cans per person.

• Waste Minimization, in which schools compete to see which produces the least amount of municipal solid waste (recyclables and trash) per person.

First conducted in 2001 between Miami University and Ohio University, the 2010 RecycleMania competition features a record 607 colleges and universities across the United States, Canada and as far away as Qatar.